Eyes are the windows, which help us to see the world and in fact the light of our life. This light is missing in 12 million Indians, who form 1/4th of the total blind population of the world. This is not all! The number is increasing every year and by the year 2020, this number is likely to become double. “Vision 2020” has been formed by WHO, IAPB, our National Government and other Philanthropic Institutions to prevent avoidable blindness. The number of Ophthalmologists, paramedical staff and facilities are disproportionately distributed with rural areas, bearing 80% of needy community having less than 20% facilities, and urban areas, have 80% facilities with relatively less necessity.

That is the reason, Jothi Eye Care Centre, from the time when, it was a clinic, then on being shifted to bigger premises as Hospital has been carrying out community outreach programmes compulsorily. Our vision and mission are comprehensive comp assionate care and perfection in eye care to all, rich or poor, old or young, male or female, just as the “Vision 2020”, aims at “right to sight” to all. Our future projects will definitely aim at providing more services to rural and sub urban areas, at our best capacity, possible. Our services, though, may be like little drops of water, will in the long run go to make up the ocean, “ the ocean of life and light!”

Jothi Eye Care Centre aims at keeping the good light, “Jothi”, shining in everyone’s life. This light has to keep shining throughout one’s life, and it should not stop there! It has to shine after death, as well, How is this possible? Everyone needs to take good care of eyes during one’s life time and donate eyes after death as well.

In India, there are three million corneally blind people, waiting for eyes and of these one million are children. It is an emergency situation for these children, as they will become permanently blind due to Amblyopia or lazy eye status, if they do not get eyes for transplantation before the age of 10 years.

Through the society that we have formed, Jothi Eye Care Foundation, we carry out community outreach activities and Eye Bank activities, to procure corneas from the eye donors, (thanks to the family members!), and utilize them for corneal transplantation. Jothi Eye Bank is recognized by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi and has the Universal toll free BSNL phone number:1919. At Jothi Eye Care Centre, we have the advanced facilities for doing corneal transplantation including the most advanced lamellar procedures, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK).

Our compassionate care and obsession for perfection have always helped Jothi Eye Care Centre stand out distinctly.

As for me, I am a person, who always likes to talk and communicate a lot, with all people. Our commitments at Jothi Eye Care Centre and entanglements with daily activities make this extravaganza nearly impossible. Hence, I take this opportunity to keep my free time (though very short) (between 9 and 10 p.m.) open to communication to those who wish, through this “consultation on line” link. You could feel free to ask for any information or clear your doubts through this link. Always wanting to keep the good light “Jothi” shining in all lives and forever at your services.

Dr. Vanaja Vaithianathan.

Subject of Interest in Ophthalmology

1. Phacoemulsification / Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery – > 10,000 surgeries/Topical anaesthesia – > 3,000 surgeries

2. Cornea (Keratoplasty) – PKP, DALK, DSEK – > 200 procedures

3. Pterygium with conjunctival autografts (with fibrin glue)

4. Glaucoma surgeries

5. Medical Retina – Laser Procedures > 3000

6. Published articles in several Journals, including Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association Journal

7. Attended several Ophthalmic Conferences, Presented papers and chaired sessions at Tamil Nadu State Conferences and Southern Regional Ophthalmic Conferences and Pondicherry Ophthalmologists’ Association Meetings.

8. Conducted Quiz programme in IMA, Pondicherry & delivered lectures for IMA, Cuddalore, Thirukoilur & Puducherry.

9. Best paper of the session at SROC – TNOA conference, Chennai in 2003

10. Best paper of the session at TNOA conference, Tirunelveli in 2004

11. Best paper of the session at TNOA conference, Coimbatore in 2009

12. Conduct Teachers training programmes on Identification of childhood eye problems in collaboration with Sarva Siksha Abiyan (SSA) and Teacher Training Centre (TTC), which are National projects. More than 1000 teachers have been trained till date.

Special Interest: Community Eye Care

1. Conducted several general eye camps, College & School screening programmes – Total no: > 360

2. Glaucoma screening programmes in offices and companies

3. Company screening programmes

4. Eye Educative & Eye Donation Awareness Programmes at Schools, Colleges, NCC camps, in T.V, & Radio.

5. Written several articles in Newspapers and magazine – about eye problems.

6. Started an Eye Bank called Jothi Eye Bank at Jothi Eye Care Centre, which is an Institutional life member of EBI and recognized by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi, (from 2005 onwards)

7. Jothi Trust and Jothi Eye Care Foundation have been founded for community & Educational activities.

8. Paramedical training programme with Bharat Sevak Samaj (from 2007 onwards)